Hoops HD

NEWS AND NOTES

-For Chad Sherwood’s UTR Game of the Day between Grambling and Jackson State – CLICK HERE

-The showcase game of the day between Michigan and Ohio State did not disappoint!!  It didn’t come down to the final seconds, but for the first 38 minutes of the game or so, it seesawed back and forth with both teams making big plays.  It was just a fantastic game to watch!  Michigan got the win on the road, and is by all accounts the definitive #3 on everyone’s seedlist, but Ohio State showed that they are capable of being just as good.  I still think they belong on the #1 line, and it wouldn’t shock me at all if we see these two face off again in the B1G Tournament.

-Maryland picked up another big win at Rutgers, and should be putting to bed any concerns about them not belonging in the NCAA Tournament.

Other than that it was a pretty chalky day with most tournament caliber teams holding serve against non-tournament caliber teams.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES

-EVANSVILLE AT DRAKE (Missouri Valley).  Drake appears to be cruising toward the NCAA Tournament.  So long as they win out and avoid an early loss in the MVC Tourney I think they’ll be inside the bubble even if they don’t win the automatic bid.

-SYRACUSE AT DUKE (ACC).  Both of these teams still feel like they’re a long way from making the NCAA Tournament, especially Duke, but Duke at least played really well their last time out and is perhaps playing like a tournament caliber team right now.

-TEXAS TECH AT OKLAHOMA STATE (Big 12).  I still really like both of these teams, but both have some room for improvement and could really use this win tonight.  Texas Tech has lost their last two (although neither loss was all that bad), and Oklahoma State could just use a few more big wins at the top of their resume to help them climb the seedlist.

-OREGON AT USC (Pac 12).  Oregon has had an unspectacular year for most of the year, but they are really starting to play well now and can pick up what would arguably be their biggest win of the season so far if they can pull this one off tonight.  USC is coming off a loss, but it’s hardly a damaging loss.  They still look like the best team in the conference and have a chance to end up as a protected seed if they can finish the season strong.

NEWS AND NOTES

-So, normally at this time of year we start closely tracking who it is that can lock up first place finishes, which means being able to have home court advantages in conference tournaments, or byes through several rounds of their tourneys, or whatever.  We also start tracking who it is that’s being removed from the SURVIVAL BOARD due to not being able to make their conference tournaments.  Due to COVID protocol and everything being in so much flux, we won’t be moving teams off of the Survival Board or declaring them outright first place finishers until we see the conference tournament bracket.  With so many teams being shut down, there is just too much that can change.

-We do have one conference tournament bracket!!  Check out our CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT INFO PAGE BY CLICKING HERE to follow all of the updates as we head down the stretch.

-For Chad Sherwood’s UTR Game of the Day between Prairie View A&M and Texas Southern – CLICK HERE

-Minnesota had been looking like a top 15 team at home this year, but that wasn’t the case yesterday.  Illinois blew them out of the gym with a 94-63 win.  Illinois may not have looked like a #1 seed all season long, but they kinda look like one now.  They are playing as well as Michigan and Ohio State and it wouldn’t shock me at all to see them beat one (or even both) of those teams in the Big Ten Tournament and jump up to the #1 line.

-Virginia had two chances in the final minute to beat Duke, but came up empty both times.  Duke is still a mile from the NCAA Tournament, but they at least played like a tournament caliber team yesterday.

-Alabama had to sweat, but held on to beat Vanderbilt.  At home.  By 4.

-West Virginia came from 19 down to get the win at Texas and pick up another huge win for their resume.  Texas kind of came apart early in the second half and West Virginia just swung the momentum their way.

-Kansas picked up another big win as they knocked off Texas Tech for the second time.  The Jayhawks went through a period where they just looked sucktacular.  That is no longer the case.  They’ve now won five straight and beaten Oklahoma State and Texas Tech in that stretch.

-USC suffered what was just their fourth loss of the year as they fell at home to Arizona 81-72.  While it is a bit of a setback, and it may hurt their chances of getting a protected seed, the Trojans are still in really good shape overall.

-Tennessee had been slumping a little bit, and they really ramped up that slumping yesterday!  Kentucky blew them off the court for a 70-55 win, despite a terrible shooting performance in the second half.  Kentucky probably can’t get in without the auto-bid, but they are starting to show signs of life.

-Indiana couldn’t hold off Michigan State at home.  It’s not a backbreaking loss for the Hoosiers, but it was a winnable game that they could have really used and at just 12-10 on the year they may be getting understandably anxious.

-Louisville lost by 45 to North Carolina yesterday in what was one of the more impressive showings for the Tarheels of the year, and one of the most gawd-awful showings for Louisville for the year.

-Oregon and Colorado both had to sweat out weaker opponents, but both held on to wins that they really needed.

-VCU followed up their big win against Richmond with a damaging loss to George Mason.  They are one of several bubble teams who needed to hold serve yesterday, but didn’t.

-Stanford fell in a triple overtime thriller at Washington State in a game that they had multiple chances to win and kind of needed to win.  They are one of several bubble teams who needed to hold serve yesterday, but didn’t.

-Seton Hall had what appeared to be a very winnable road game at Georgetown yesterday, but they failed to get it done.  They are one of several bubble teams who needed to hold serve yesterday, but didn’t.

-Ole Miss had really been on a roll, and they were hosting rival Mississippi State last night in a game that looked like would be an easy win.  They failed to get it done and lost 66-56.  They are one of several bubble teams who needed to hold serve yesterday, but didn’t.

-Saint John’s had been on a roll!  They had won eight of their last nine and picked up several big wins in that stretch!  They went from being left for dead to playing their way onto the bubble!  Yesterday they had what appeared to be an easy game at home against DePaul!  But…THEY LOST!!  They are one of several bubble teams who needed to hold serve yesterday, but didn’t.

HIGHLIGHTED GAMES

-MICHIGAN AT OHIO STATE (Big Ten).  This is a big rivalry game between two top four teams that could both end up on the #1 line.  It’s not a game that either team really “needs” since they are both pretty much locks to make the NCAA Tournament, but it is a huge showcase game and a big litmus test, and the winner will be very much on track to get a #1 seed.

-CINCINNATI AT HOUSTON (American).  Cincinnati has had a disappointing season overall, but they have won their last four games, and played Wichita State very close before that, so they could make some noise in the AAC between now and the end.  If they pull the upset today against a Houston team that’s looking to bounce back from their loss to Wichita State, they’ll make more than just a little noise.

-MARYLAND AT RUTGERS (Big Ten).  This is a resume building opportunity for two teams who could really benefit from padding their resumes a little bit.  Maryland is looking for their fourth straight win, and Rutgers is looking for a stabilizing win after losing two of their last three.

-EVANSVILLE AT DRAKE (Missouri Valley).  Drake will likely make the field so long as they win all their remaining regular season games, which they are certainly good enough to do.

-PENN STATE AT IOWA (Big Ten).  Iowa has won three straight and is coming off a blowout win at Wisconsin, which was perhaps their most impressive performance of the year.  They can keep that momentum going with a win today.

-WISCONSIN AT NORTHWESTERN (Big Ten).  Wisconsin is in relatively good shape for a bid, but they have lost three of their last four and don’t have anything overly impressive on their resume that would indicate they deserve a protected seed, so holding serve today is important.

-BUTLER AT XAVIER (Big East).  Xavier is sliding down the seedlist and really needs to avoid a loss to a Butler team that’s nowhere close to making the field.

-For Chad Sherwood’s UTR Game(s) of the Day, which impact who the first place finisher in the Horizon League will be – CLICK HERE

-Saint Louis appeared to have the pieces to be a tournament team coming into the year, but they have seldom looked that way during the season, and they DEFINITELY did not look that way yesterday.  Dayton absolutely blew their doors off in a 76-53 route in the most recent addition of the Arch Baron Cup.

-Boise State completed the sweep of Utah State in another exciting game last night.  The 81-77 win all but assures Boise State a spot inside the field barring a collapse in their last few games, whereas Utah State is outside the bubble and needs a big finish to even be considered if they don’t win the MWC Tournament.

-MICHIGAN STATE AT INDIANA (Big Ten).  Indiana needs to hold serve to stay on the right side of the bubble.  Michigan State could still play their way in to the field if they finish strong, but they’ve shown no signs whatsoever of being able to do that.

-GEORGIA TECH AT MIAMI FL (ACC).  Georgia Tech appears to clearly be outside the bubble, but if they can string together some wins down the stretch they could make a run at it.

-VANDERBILT AT ALABAMA (SEC).  Alabama will likely end up as high as the #2 line if they continue to win at the clip they have been and avoid slip ups in games like this.

-UCONN AT VILLANOVA (Big East).  UConn is hovering around the bubble and could use a big time win to get them safely inside of it.  Nova is in all likelihood a protected seed, but they’ve looked vulnerable their last couple of times out and could use a win like this just for stabilization.

-KENTUCKY AT TENNESSEE (SEC).  Tennessee is cruising toward a protected seed, but has also looked a little sluggish in some of their recent games.  They did blow out South Carolina in their last game, so perhaps they’re snapping out of it, but they don’t want to sleepwalk today.

-TEXAS TECH AT KANSAS (Big 12).  After going through a bit of a slump, Kansas has been playing much better and has a chance at a really big win today against a Texas Tech team that seems to be heading toward a protected seed.

-MISSOURI AT SOUTH CAROLINA (SEC).  Mizzou has had a good season, but has struggled in their last few games.  This is a winnable road game and a good opportunity to bounce back.

-NOTRE DAME AT SYRACUSE (ACC).  Syracuse has been outside the bubble pretty much all season long and will need to finish strong to have any sort of a chance of getting in.

-GEORGE MASON AT VCU (Atlantic Ten).  VCU has won six straight, and is coming off two big wins against Saint Bonaventure and Richmond to make a case that they are the strongest team in the Atlantic Ten.  They are good enough to win out, and if they do they’ll be inside the bubble.

-WEST VIRGINIA AT TEXAS (Big 12).  This is a game between two top 15 teams.  Both have good chances of ending up as a protected seed, and a win today would help out that cause even more.

-BYU AT LMU (West Coast).  BYU shouldn’t have any trouble holding serve in this one.  They will safely make the field, and will likely go in on the first ballot, if they finish strong.

-ILLINOIS AT MINNESOTA (Big Ten).  Minnesota continues to look like a top 10 team at home and a team that can’t win at all on the road.  Illinois is simply looking like a top ten team period, so it should be a good game.  It’s also a game that Illinois should get quite a bit of credit for if they win because of how good Minney has been at home.

-GEORGIA AT FLORIDA (SEC).  Florida looked as though they were getting better, but they’ve lost their last two games and need to get things turned around.  They need to hold serve at home today.

-FLORIDA STATE AT PITTSBURGH (ACC).  Florida State is playing as well as anyone in the ACC right now, and looks like they are going to have a strong finish to the season and end up as a protected seed.

-STANFORD AT WASHINGTON STATE (Pac 12).  Stanford is one of the many teams that makes up the crowded bubble.  Like every game they play, this one is important.  They need to hold serve.

-AUBURN AT LSU (SEC).  LSU is coming off a big win against Tennessee and appears to be heading in the right direction at the right time.  They should be able to pick this one up at home.

-DUQUESNE AT RICHMOND (Atlantic Ten).  If Richmond wants any shot at all at landing inside the bubble they pretty much need to win out and then pick up at least one decent win in the conference tournament.

-TENNESSEE TECH AT BELMONT (Ohio Valley).  Belmont has just one loss and will be looked at by the committee so long as they win out through the regular season.

-KANSAS STATE AT TCU (Big 12).  TCU still has an outside shot at making the field, but it is an outside shot at best.  They need a very strong finish just to get in the conversation.

-SETON HALL AT GEORGETOWN (Big East).  Seton Hall has won four in a row and I like how they’ve been playing.  This is a very winnable road game which would give them five straight and get them one step closer toward making the field.

-PURDUE AT NEBRASKA (Big Ten).  After a bit of a slow start, the Boilers are playing really well.  they have won just three of their last five, but both losses were close games against tough teams.  This is a very winnable game where they should hold serve and sustain their momentum.

-OKLAHOMA AT IOWA STATE (Big 12).  Oklahoma continues to climb the rankings and climb the seedlist.  If they can finish strong they could end up seeded as high as the #2 line.  They shouldn’t have too much trouble holding serve today.

-ARIZONA AT USC (Pac 12).  USC is as hot as anyone in the country right now.  A win gets them to 19-3 on the year and continues to allow them to make the case that they deserve a protected seed.

-LOUISVILLE AT NORTH CAROLINA (ACC).  Calling this a must-win is overstating it a bit, but it’s a game that both teams could REALLY use.  Both resumes are a little flimsy, so there should definitely be a sense of urgency to this one.

-MISSISSIPPI STATE AT OLE MISS (SEC).  Ole Miss has won four straight and beaten both Missouri and Tennessee in that stretch, so they are making a big case that they belong in the field.  They have a winnable game at home against their rivals tonight.

-SAN DIEGO STATE AT FRESNO STATE (Mountain West).  San Diego State is squarely on the bubble.  They must hold serve in games like this and finish strong overall.

-DEPAUL AT SAINT JOHN’S (Big East).  The Johnnies have won seven of their last eight, are playing really well, and will likely land inside the bubble if they keep it up.  They had a lot of ground to make up before they started that streak, but they look like they’ll be in good shape if they can hold serve in games like this.

-SAN DIEGO AT GONZAGA (West Coast).  Gonzaga remains the nation’s top team and will finish the season ranked #1 and on the #1 line if they win out, which they are easily good enough to do.

-VIRGINIA AT DUKE (ACC).  Virginia is coming off a rather decisive loss to Florida State, but they’ve still played well overall down the stretch and should have a protected seed pretty much locked up so long as they don’t go into the tank.

-COLORADO AT OREGON STATE (Pac 12).  Colorado isn’t in any real danger of missing the tournament, but their resume could still use some work and they still want to hold serve in games like this to avoid sliding too far down the seedlist.

-ARKANSAS AT TEXAS A&M (SEC).  As much as I had beaten up on Arkansas for most of the year, they have shut me up these past couple weeks.  They are playing great, they are looking like a team that will land in the top half of the bracket, and they’ve got a winnable game tonight.

-COLORADO STATE AT NEVADA (Mountain West).  We have Colorado State inside the bubble, but not locked into the field, so all their remaining games are big.  Nevada is not to be overlooked, either.  They’ve won four straight, and six out of their last eight, and it would almost assuredly be more than that had their two games with San Jose State not been postponed.

-UTAH AT OREGON (Pac 12).  Oregon is finally starting to get into a flow.  They’ve won their last four, they looked really good the other night against Colorado, and can puck up another one today.

-ARIZONA STATE AT UCLA (Pac 12).  UCLA had been slumping, but they had a good win the other night against Arizona and should be able to follow that up with another one tonight against an Arizona State team that just hasn’t looked good at all this season.